The History of Microsoft - 1983

Description

For Microsoft, 1983 means the end of an era with the resignation of Paul Allen, the introduction of MS - DOS 2.0 and the formation of Microsoft Press, a trade-book publishing division specializing
in computer books.

Paul Allen resigns as Microsoft's executive vice president, but remains on the Board of Directors.

March 9, 1983

Microsoft introduces MS-DOS 2.0.

May 2, 1983

Microsoft introduces the Microsoft Mouse, a low-cost, handheld pointing device for use with the IBM PC as well as any other MS-DOS-based personal computer.

August 1, 1983
The assets of Wiser Laboratories Pty, Ltd. of Australia, the local distributor of Microsoft products, are acquired. With the establishment of this subsidiary, Microsoft obtains a direct distribution network into the region. All of Wiser's employees will be
retained, and the firm will stay at its existing address. This is considered the company’s first acquisition.

November 3, 1983 Microsoft Press, a trade-book publishing division specializing in computer books, is formed. Nahum Stiskin is named General Manager and Publisher. The primary marketing focus is the business professional, with secondary emphasis on the hobbyist, home,
and education markets. Microsoft Press expects to publish 30 to 35 books in its first year.

November 10, 1983

Microsoft unveils Windows, an extension of the MS-DOS operating system that provides a graphical operating environment. Windows features a window management capability that allows a user to view unrelated application programs simultaneously.
It also provides the capability to transfer data from one application program to another. Windows wouldn’t actually ship until 2 years later.

December 1, 1983 The first international subsidiaries to connect to Microsoft e-mail are in Europe: Microsoft Ltd. in the U.K., Microsoft Sarl in France, and Microsoft G.m.b.H. in Germany.

Notable new hires: Jon Shirley - Former Microsoft president, chief operating officer, and director; Joachim Kempin - Former senior vice president of Microsoft's OEM Division;Mike Slade -Former product manager, helped products such
as Excel and Works to become household names and managed the entire line of Mac products;Pete Higgins - Former group vice president of the Interactive Media Group and member of the Office of the President;Raymond B. "Buck" Ferguson - Former senior director
of Investor and Shareholder Relations;Bernard Vergnes - Chairman Emeritus of Microsoft EMEA.

Other 1983:

· World Population: 4.690 billion

· Nobel Peace Prize: Lech Walesa (Poland)

· U.S. Statistics: President- Ronald W. Reagan; Vice President - George Bush; Population -233,791,994; Life expectancy - 74.6 years

· First Artificial Heart: A permanent artificial heart was implanted in a human for first time. The operation was performed on Dr. Barney B. Clark, 61, at University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City.

· First Woman In Space: Sally K. Ride, 32, is the first US woman astronaut in space as a crew member aboard space shuttle Challenger.

The Discussion

It is always nice to look back. Some new unknown information gives the feel of "Oh, this is what it is...". And some are revelations. The transition was nice to know from solution provider to the owner. With the MS Word and Excel - there are some hiddent
functions - like rand in word and in excel, there was a game packaged... you can touch upon those for the lighter side...
Nice work Tina.